Ottensmeyer elected to Greenbrier's board

The Greenbrier Cos. Inc. has elected former Kansas City Southern President and CEO Patrick Ottensmeyer to the company's board of directors.

Ottensmeyer served as KCS president and CEO from 2015 until April 2023, when the merger creating Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) was approved by the Surface Transportation Board.

He is the U.S. chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's U.S.-Mexico Economic Council (USMXECO). In that role, Ottensmeyer presides over the U.S.-Mexico CEO Dialogue, which occurs twice annually. He oversees the council's agenda of engagement with public- and private-sector leaders in the United States and Mexico to strengthen bilateral commercial ties.

As leader of the U.S.-Mexico CEO Dialogue, Ottensmeyer was instrumental in representing business interests during the formation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).  He also is co-chair of the Brookings Institute USMCA Initiative, a group focused on building more integrated and resilient supply chains.

Ottensmeyer's experience operating international businesses with strong regulatory oversight will be invaluable to Greenbrier, said Greenbrier Chairman Thomas Fargo in a press release.

"In addition to his unique experience leading a company that connects the entire North American economy, he is committed to continuous improvement and collaboration," said Fargo. "Pat's leadership role in the CPKC merger demonstrates his vision for economic growth and supply chain integration."